Anti-Corruption
Access Info Europe And Anti-Corruption
Access to information is vital to prevent corruption and to fight against it. Across all our projects the need to eradicate corruption is a main motive for our activities, particularly when:
- • Training journalists and activists;
- • Defending transparency in court;
- • Campaigning to protect the right of access to information;
- • Developing tools to explain how the right to information works.
In this section you will find news about our work specifically focused on anti-corruption.
Focus on Access to Information Laws essential for implementation of UN Convention against Corruption
Vienna, 29 May 2013 – Access Info Europe today called on States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) to make strong mechanisms for access to information a priority issue. The right of access to information is a key tool for the prevention of corruption, yet there is no mention of it in the work plan of the UNCAC’s Working Group on Corruption Prevention.
Speaking at the UN Convention against Corruption Briefing for NGOs today, Lydia Medland of Access Info said, "To fight corruption, citizens and civil society organisations need effective access to information laws which not only oblige governments to publish information proactively but which also give citizens the right to request and receive information held by public bodies."
Access to information: a growing priority in the fight against corruption
Madrid, 1 August 2012- At the first ever civil society briefing with States Parties to the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) which took place in Vienna this June, access to information and participation remained top on the agenda for both civil society advocates and government officials.
Civil society representatives, one after another emphasised the need to be involved in the process of reviewing what states had done to implement UNCAC anti-corruption obligations. At the same time, a vast majority of state representatives also welcomed civil society participation in the UNCAC process, citing numerous examples of positive cooperation with NGOs. Specific mention was also made of the importance of access to information laws in the fight against corruption, including delegates reporting instances of public officials using the right to information to investigate crimes on corruption in their own countries.
Civil Society Calls for Greater Transparency in International Negotiations on the Fight against Corruption
Marrakesh, 28 October 2011 – Transparency International Spain and Access Info Europe have joined civil society organisations from around the world in calling on governments signatory to the UN Convention against Corruption to show greater commitment to fighting corruption and to be more open in what they are doing to tackle it.
The 154 countries which have committed to United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) are currently meeting at the 4th Conference of States Parties, making it the world’s largest forum for adopting measures to combat corruption and to evaluate advances in reducing it.
Access Info Calls for an End to Closed Negotiations on Fighting Corruption
Marrakesh, 27 October 2011 – Access Info Europe, participating in the Marrakesh negotiations of the Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), today made a formal intervention in the plenary session calling on States Parties to end discussions behind closed doors about how the treaty is implemented.
The UNCAC is the strongest international anti-corruption convention and its comprehensive and transparent implementation is vital to the fight against corruption. States Parties will meet tonight (27 October) between 9pm and midnight to discuss opening these meetings to civil society and therefore bringing necessary transparency to the implementation review process.
A copy of the intervention can be found here. 
To watch a video of the intervention click here.
Photo by Andrea Figari
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